Red bayberry plant named ‘N1MR07’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Red Bayberry, botanically known as  Myrica rubra , and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘N1MR07’ is described. N1MR07 produces fruit having improved sweetness, a good sugar:acid ratio, a palatable low resin taste along with uniform fruit size and colour. N1MR07 has the following traits: mean fruit diameter is 22.3 mm; mean fruit weight is 7.15 g; fruit colour is red; mean fruit flesh total soluble solids (an indicator of sweetness) is 12.4° Brix; mean fruit flesh titratable acidity is 1.08%; and fruit harvest season in the southern hemisphere is mid-late November.

Botanical denomination: Myrica rubra.

Variety designation: ‘N1MR07’.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of RedBayberry, botanically known as Myrica rubra, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘N1MR07’.

‘N1MR07’ is the product of a selection program started by the inventorin 2002 in a cultivated area of Knoxfield, Victoria, Australia. Theprimary focus of the selection program is to produce new cultivars ofRed Bayberry with fruit having improved sweetness, a good sugar:acidratio, a palatable low resin taste along with uniform fruit size andcolour.

‘N1MR07’ was selected in 2008 from a mature planting of twelvecutting-propagated genotypes which the inventor had originally grownfrom out-crossed seed collected from China. The inventor is unable toidentify either the male or the female parent. A later plantingcomprising 141 seedlings from a second batch of seed were evaluated forfruit quality in 2010. The combination of traits displayed by ‘N1MR07’was not found in any of the 141 seedlings. Hence, ‘N1MR07’ is consideredto be a unique cultivar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘N1MR07’ was asexually reproduced by clonal propagation,using cuttings or by grafting onto rootstock in Gatton, Queensland,Australia. The original clonal propagation to produce the variety wasconducted via vegetative tip cuttings.

The cultivar ‘N1MR07’ has not been tested under all possible conditionsand phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions, without however anychange in genotype.

The following traits have been observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Myrica rubra cultivar ‘N1MR07’. These traitsin combination distinguish ‘N1MR07’ from all other varieties of Myricarubra known to the inventor.

-   -   1. Mean fruit diameter is 22.3 mm.    -   2. Mean fruit weight is 7.15 g.    -   3. Fruit colour is red.    -   4. Mean fruit flesh total soluble solids (an indicator of        sweetness) is 12.4° Brix.    -   5. Mean fruit flesh titratable acidity is 1.08%.    -   6. Fruit harvest season in the southern hemisphere is mid-late        November.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a digital image showing representative fruit of ‘N1MR06’,‘N1MR07’, and ‘N1MR09’ displaying the variation in fruit size, shape andcolour; harvested November 2011 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia.

FIG. 2 is a digital image showing the whole plant of ‘N1MR07’ inNambour, Queensland, Australia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description describes the Myrica rubra cultivar ‘N1MR07’at 7 years. The vegetative propagule was observed in a test plotmaintained with standard management practices for commercial bayberryproduction in Nambour, Queensland, Australia. Certain characteristics ofthis variety, such as growth and colour, may change with changingenvironmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, nutrientavailability, or other factors). Colour descriptions and otherterminology are used in accordance with their ordinary dictionarydescriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Colourdesignations are based on the CIE L.C.h colour model and were measuredusing a Konica Minolta CR-400 Chroma Meter.

-   Botanical classification: Myrica rubra.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent plant.—Unknown.        -   Male parent plant.—Unknown.-   Plant:    -   -   Vigor.—General observations of ‘N1MR07’ plantings indicate            average plant vigor.        -   Plant habit.—Branched shrub, elongate in shape; can be            limbed up into a multi-trunked small tree.        -   Plant dimensions.—Height 3.5 m; Width: 4.45 m.        -   Plant hardiness.—USDA Zone 9 (potentially ranging from 8 to            10).        -   Type.—Evergreen shrub.        -   Disease resistance.—No disease resistance data available for            foliar or root pathogens.-   Fruit:    -   -   Shape.—Spherical.        -   Size.—In Nambour, Queensland, Australia, average diameter            was 22.3 mm.        -   Skin.—Knobby (papillate).        -   Colour.—Red. CIE L.C.h color measurements are as follows:            Lightness (L)=19.15±0.26; Chroma (C)=18.62±0.43; Hue            (h)=15.31±0.36.        -   Weight.—In Nambour, Queensland, Australia, average weight            was 7.15 g.        -   Number of seeds.—One.        -   Flesh.—Pink-white.        -   Fruit chemistry.—Samples of fruit were harvested from test            plots in Nambour, Queensland, Australia and evaluated for            fruit chemistry. Average fruit flesh total soluble solids            were 12.4° Brix and average fruit flesh titratable acidity            was 1.08%.        -   Fruit production.—Mid-late November.-   Leaf:    -   -   Length (mm).—100.4±2.1.        -   Width (mm).—29.87±0.62.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Margin type.—Entire.        -   Texture (upper surface).—Glabrous.        -   Texture (lower surface).—Glabrous.        -   Fragrance.—Mildly fragrant when bruised.        -   Color (upper surface).—139A (Light=32; Chroma=16; hue=146).        -   Color (lower surface).—147B (Light=47; Chroma=21; hue=112).        -   Apex shape.—Acute to obtuse, rarely retuse.        -   Base shape.—Cuneate.-   Leaf bud:    -   -   Axillary bud length (mm).—2.63±0.10.        -   Axillary bud shape.—Ovoid to ovoid-conical.        -   Axillary bud number per axil.—1.00±0.00.        -   Axillary bud colour.—153D (Light=72; Chroma=58; hue=88).-   Petiole:    -   -   Length (mm).—9.20±0.37.        -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—152D (Light=62; Chroma=46; hue=88).-   Stem:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Surface texture.—Woody.        -   Presence/absence of lenticel.—Present.        -   Color.—N199A (Light=38; Chroma=15; Hue=76).-   Flower:    -   -   Monoecious or dioecious.—Dioecious.        -   Flower form.—Incomplete, lacks petals and sepals.        -   Flowering season.—Late winter to early spring.        -   Flower colour.—None, flowers are apetalous.        -   Average number of flowers per inflorescence.—13.04±5.055.        -   Average inflorescence length.—14.13 mm±1.42.        -   Size.—Very small and inconspicuous.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Average peduncle length.—3.621±1.402.-   Reproductive organs: The variety produces pistillate flowers only.    -   -   Number of pistils per flower.—2.-   Seeds:    -   -   Length (mm).—12.13±0.16.        -   Width (mm).—9.30±0.13.        -   Thickness (mm).—8.63±0.10.        -   Shape.—Broad elliptic to broad obovate.        -   Color.—165D (Light=78; Chroma=31; hue=71).-   Shipping and storage characteristics:    -   -   Fruit decay severity after 15 d storage at 5° C..—Severe            (this data is preliminary (based on fruit harvested from a            single location) and may have been affected by environmental            conditions).-   Pollination requirement:    -   -   Dioecious.—Cross-pollination by wind.

TABLE 1 Comparison of characteristics of ‘N1MR06’, ‘N1MR07’, and‘N1MR09’ Characteristic ‘N1MR09’ ‘N1MR06’ ‘N1MR07’ Tree: habit spreadingsemi-upright upright Tree: compactness standard compact standard Tree:vigour medium to strong strong strong Leaf blade: length medium mediummedium Leaf blade: width broad broad medium Leaf blade: ratiolength/width small medium medium Leaf blade: shape of tip blunt acuteblunt acute blunt acute Leaf blade: shape in cross concave concaveconcave section Leaf blade: green colour of medium dark medium upperside Leaf: attitude in relation to upwards upwards upwards shoot Fruit:size medium medium large Fruit: firmness of flesh medium firm soft tomedium Fruit: total soluble solids of high high medium juice Fruit: acidcontent of juice high high medium Time of: beginning of early mediummedium flowering Time of: fruit maturity early early medium Fruit: Skinprotruberances moderate moderate moderate Fruit: Uniformity of even evenuneven protruberances Fruit: Colour of flesh pink-white pink-redpink-white Fruit: Drop or shed before high low low harvest Shoot:internode length medium medium long Leaf: Colour - underside of lightgreen light green very light leaf green Leaf: Undulating margin slightlyundulating slightly undulating undulating Shoot: Size of lenticels largemedium large Shoot: Density of lenticels sparse dense medium Flower:Number of flowers medium high high per inflorescence Fruit: Colour ofskin light dark medium Fruit: Yield medium medium high Leaf: Number ofbuds per multiple mainly single single leaf axil Leaf: Petiole lengthmedium medium medium Fruit: Resinous taste absent absent absent Shoot:Colour of juvenile black red black red black red shoot Shoot: Colour ofjuvenile dark red medium red dark red leaf tips Flower: Peduncle lengthmedium long medium Fruit: Seed weight medium low medium

TABLE 2 Comparison of characteristics of ‘N1MR06’, ‘N1MR07’, and‘N1MR09’ Morphological Genotype characteristic N1MR06 N1MR07 N1MR09 Leaflength 95.6 ± 1.5 100.4 ± 2.1 91.1 ± 1.5 (mm) Leaf width 29.50 ± 0.529.87 ± 0.62 27.97 ± 0.56 (mm) Leaf shape oblanceolate oblanceolateoblanceolate Leaf margin entire entire entire type Leaf texture glabrousglabrous glabrous (upper surface) Leaf texture glabrous glabrousglabrous (lower surface) Leaf fragrance mildly fragrant mildly fragrantmildly fragrant when bruised when bruised when bruised Leaf colour 139A(Light = 139A (Light = 139A (Light = (upper 32; Chroma = 32; Chroma =32; Chroma = surface) 16; hue = 146) 16; hue = 146) 16; hue = 146) Leafcolour 147B (Light = 147B (Light = 147B (Light = (lower 47; Chroma = 47;Chroma = Chroma = 21; surface) 21; hue = 112) 21; hue = 112) hue = 112)Leaf apex acute to obtuse, acute to obtuse, acute to obtuse, shaperarely retuse rarely retuse rarely retuse Leaf base cuneate cuneatecuneate shape Axillary bud 3.13 ± 0.09 2.63 ± 0.10 4.50 ± 0.12 length(mm) Axillary bud ovoid to ovoid- ovoid to ovoid- ovoid to ovoid- shapeconical conical conical Axillary bud 1.10 ± 0.07 1.00 ± 0.00 5.20 ± 0.22number per axil Axillary bud 165C (Light = 153D (Light = 165C (Light =colour 67; Chroma = 72; Chroma = 67; Chroma = 38; hue = 65) 58; hue =88) 38; hue = 65) Number of could not be could not be could not bescales per determined determined determined leaf bud Petiole length 9.07± 0.23 9.20 ± 0.37 10.27 ± 0.24 Petiole surface glabrous glabrousglabrous texture Petiole colour 152D (Light = 152D (Light = 62; 152D(Light = 62; Chroma = 46; Chroma = 46; 62; Chroma = hue = 88) hue = 88)46; hue = 88) Stem shape round round round Stem surface woody woodywoody texture Presence/ present present present absence of lenticel onstem Stem colour N199A (Light = N199A (Light = 199B (Light = 38; Chroma= 38; Chroma = 54; Chroma = 15; Hue = 76) 15; Hue = 76) 20; hue = 74)Monoecious dioecious dioecious dioecious or dioecious Flower formincomplete, lacks incomplete, lacks incomplete, lacks petals and sepalspetals and sepals petals and sepals Flowering late winter to early latewinter to early late winter to season spring spring early spring Flowercolour none, flowers are none, flowers are none, flowers are apetalousapetalous apetalous Number of species is species is species is stamensper dioecious, dioecious, dioecious, flower variety produces varietyproduces variety produces pistillate flowers pistillate flowerspistillate flowers only only only Number of 2 2 2 pistils per flowerStamen size species is species is species is dioecious, dioecious,dioecious, variety produces variety produces variety produces pistillateflowers pistillate flowers pistillate flowers only only only Stamenspecies is species is species is colour dioecious, dioecious, dioecious,variety produces variety produces variety produces pistillate flowerspistillate flowers pistillate flowers only only only Pollen colourspecies is species is species is dioecious, dioecious, dioecious,variety produces variety produces variety produces pistillate flowerspistillate flowers pistillate flowers only only only Seed length 10.60 ±0.14 12.13 ± 0.16 12.23 ± 0.13 (mm) Seed width 8.63 ± 0.12 9.30 ± 0.1310.03 ± 0.14 (mm) Seed thick- 7.27 ± 0.12 8.63 ± 0.10 8.63 ± 0.10 ness(mm) Seed shape broad elliptic to broad elliptic to broad elliptic tobroad obovate broad obovate broad obovate Seed colour 165D (Light = 78;165D (Light = 78; 165D (Light = Chroma = 31; Chroma = 31; 78; Chroma =hue = 71) hue = 71) 31; hue = 71) Fruit decay slight severe moderateseverity after 15 d storage at 5° C. Quantitative data are provided asmeans ± standard error of the mean for n = 30 samples. Leaf and petiolemeasurements were conducted on mature, fully expanded leaves harvestedat shoulder height. Vegetative and floral axillary buds are identical inappearance until bud burst or leaf expansion becomes evident. Hence, nodistinction is made between the type of axillary bud. Colourmeasurements were made using the Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (5th edition) and converted to CIE LCh values using online tablesat http://rhscf.orgfree.com/ (accessed 10 Mar. 2016). Seed measurementswere conducted on seed with intact endocarp (i.e., the stone)

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of red bayberryplant, substantially as illustrated and described herein.